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	Pastor Gets 5 Years in Sex Abuse Case By Kris Wernowsky Pensacola News Journal June 16, 2008 http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/NEWS01/80616013 Circuit Judge Nick Geeker sentenced Pastor Leon Rankins III today to five years in state prison and 10 years probation. Rankins, 36, of the Restoration Full Gospel Baptist Church in the 900 block of West Cervantes Street, is also required to register as a sexual predator. Rankins pleaded no contest in April to two counts of lewd and lascivious battery on a victim over the age of 12. If Rankins had been convicted at trial, he would have faced at least 12 years in prison. Rankins, who had been free on bond, was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom by his attorney and the court security officer. More than 20 family members and supporters of Rankins filed quietly out of the courtroom after Geeker announced the sentence. None wished to comment as they exited the courtroom. The allegations against Rankins came to light last April when the victim told his parents that the minister had been molesting him for two years, according to police reports. Prior to his arrest, Rankins pleaded with the victim's family not to press charges. Unbeknownst to Rankins, the family had contacted authorities who recorded a telephone conversation in which Rankins told the victim's mother he was dealing with personal issues and was willing to leave the church. It was the second time Rankins, a registered sex offender, was accused of having sex with a boy. Rankins was 17 years old at the time of another sex abuse allegation in 1989; the victim was an 11-year-old boy. In 1994, Rankins pleaded no contest to two counts of sexual battery and was sentenced to two years of house arrest followed by two years of probation.
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